Kroger stop stocking sprouts for sale

Health concerns lead to change

Kroger Inc. says it has stopped stocking sprouts as of Monday because of their "potential food safety risk."

The nation's largest traditional grocer joins Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, which pulled sprouts in 2010.

The grocer says current technology can't assure that sprouts are safe to eat because germs can reside inside the seeds.

"After a thorough, science-based review, we have decided to voluntarily discontinue selling fresh sprouts," said Payton Pruett, Kroger's vice president of food safety in a news release. "Testing and sanitizing by the growers and safe food handling by the consumer are the critical steps to protect against food-borne illness. Sprouts present a unique challenge because pathogens may reside inside of the seeds where they cannot be reached by the currently available processing interventions. Out of an abundance of caution, the Kroger Family of Stores will no longer sell fresh sprouts or procure other foods that are produced on the same equipment as sprouts."

The government says sprouts have been tied to at least 30 outbreaks of illnesses such as salmonella and E. coli since 1996. Thoroughly cooking sprouts reduces the risk of illness.